The Wall

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“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

Today I Am Enjoying . . .

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the changing seasons.

In case you were not aware, South Carolina has four seasons: Nearly Summer, Almost Summer, Summer, and More Summer.

It's February and I think since Winter started we've only had maybe a whole week's worth of winter weather--and by that I mean temperatures below the freezing mark--and those days (nights, mostly) were not consecutive. If I exaggerate, it's not by much. Personally, I enjoy the cold, preferring it much more than the heat. One can never escape the heat. Cold has a grace to it, that, if one gets cold enough, one no longer feels it--but the heat? No mercy.

Regardless, I'm enjoying the changing seasons. The forecast is mid to high 70's well through next week. The daffo-down-dillies and tulips I planted the day after Thanksgiving are well on their way up, so I'm thinking winter is pretty much behind us.

I'm already thinking vegetable garden--bought my seeds. now all I need is place to put them. Thinking of using as much vertical space as possible--like planting a thin strip of cucumbers and squash alongside the fence and let 'em clamber up. Easier to maintain that way.

At this point I'll be shocked if it gets cold or wintery again by March. Though it's happened before (we got snow in February a few years back--and once in March) it could always happen again.

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